A SPEEDY inquiry by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott into plans to create a 100-acre leisure park on green belt land in Burnley is being called for by MP Peter Pike.

The MP says he has been lobbied from all viewpoints on the £6 million scheme to develop land at Crow Wood House Farm, close to the M65 Motorway Asda junction at Daneshouse.

Mr Pike says he is minded to give his backing to the application by local entrepreneur Andrew Brown, but wants full consideration and public consultation before a final decision is made.

The project, which would create a 30--acre forest, equestrian centre with arenas and 52 stables and a leisure complex including tennis courts, specialist rooms, bar and brasserie, has already received in-principle approval from Burnley council planning chiefs.

But because it runs "substantially contrary" to the Local Plan, it requires full council approval and special consent from the Secretary of State.

Environmental groups are fiercely opposed and Friends of the Earth has actively campaigned against the proposal because it eats into protected green belt land.

The group recently raised a major petition in the town centre calling for the application to be rejected.

Said Mr Pike: "As the proposal departs from the District Plan and is on land designated green, it has to be referred to Environment Secretary John Prescott. "I have written to him asking him to call in the application and hold an enquiry as speedily as possible so that all the factors can be looked at openly."

Mr Pike added: "I have also indicated that I am minded to support the application as I believe there are several good reasons for it to go ahead, but it is wrong to breech the District Plan and Green Belt position without following the procedure laid down to ensure full public consultation and consideration." Carole Galbraith, co-ordinator of Burnley and District Friends of the Earth said: "It is vital that the rural surroundings of Burnley are protected."

She added: "Burnley has plenty of land that could be developed without destroying our precious heritage of Green Belt which is there for the benefit of all the people of Burnley."

Her group is calling for a referendum on the issue.

Supporters of the scheme say it will provide a first-class attraction for Burnley, create jobs and blend in with the country surroundings.

They warn that if a decision is not taken soon, a similar rival project in Blackburn will proceed first and there simply isn't enough demand in East Lancashire to support both schemes.

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